Western Forge to Add Jobs at Colorado Springs Plant

Western Forge Corp., a manufacturer of screwdrivers, will add more than 150 jobs to its Colorado Springs, CO, plant next year as it closes a plant in Murphy, NC.

The company has decided to consolidate all of its manufacturing in Colorado Springs, which is the company headquarters. Officials stated that the decision was prompted by declining sales and increased competition in the industry. Another factor was the availability of natural gas at the Colorado location.

The Murphy plant, which employs about 170, is scheduled to close in April. It opened in late 1999. Western Forge is a subsidiary of Emerson Electric Co.